QUILTS & FABRIC: PAST & PRESENT

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Eagles and Eccentricities

Reunion Eagle by Barbara Brackman (reproduction)

For the past few years I've been using the internet to collect pictures of quilt patterns. I see the worldwide web as an enormous quilt documentation day where people post quilts to sell them, show them off and ask questions. I find it a great way to study patterns.

Antique quilt from an online auction

One of my favorite photo collections is eagle quilts and the variations.

The consensus among quilt historians now is that these Four-Block Eagles date to around the time of the 1876 Centennial celebration of American Independence, which happened 234 years ago today. Our 100th birthday party was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reunion Eagle by Nancy Hornback (reproduction)

Nancy's reproduced a classic version with several characteristics found over and over in this pattern.

*Four eagles with spread wings and a shield on the chest

*The eagles have nothing in their talons but something (vegetation?, laurel leaves) in their beaks

*A central medallion

The pattern was quite popular in Pennsylvania between 1875 and 1930, probably influenced by the Centennial Exposition and the imagery there.

We've never found an actual pattern published or hand cut for the four-block eagle quilts but many quilts were made. The thing I love is the variety. Within the design conventions quilters found room for a lot of eccentricity.

Antique top from an online auction

Some quilters added details. This one turned the medallion into a Princess Feather.

But many subtracted details.

I am the proud owner of this top in which the central medallion has been reduced to a doughnut. It looks to be early 20th century.

Antique top, early 20th century

To be fair to the original quiltmaker here, the fabric in the tail has faded to white.

Imagine a tail between those little feet that are floating around. And there must have been more to the wings.

The eagles looked less anorexic when the quilt was new.

Quilt historian Susan Wildemuth has put her collection of eagle photos on a disc so you can enjoy the eccentricities too.

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Contact Me

The email address for this blog is MaterialCult@gmail.com

DOG-GONE GOOD BOOKS

I've published a lot of books on quilt history and quilt patterns over the years. Below are some links to buy them, mostly eBooks or Print-on-Demand. But first click on the dog to go to my Etsy store to see if I have any printed copies I can autograph and send you.

VISIT MY ETSY STORE

Click to see books and quilts for sale. The books are all print editions from early print runs.

E-Book version of Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.

Click on the book cover to buy a downloadable version.

Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns

The bound volume of this index to 4,000 designs with names is Out of Print. Buy an E-Book version above or buy the digital version BlockBase directly below which will print any pattern any size.

BlockBase

This computer program features over 4,300 patterns. Use it for pattern ideas, pattern I.D. and pattern drafting. Program is for PC's. Click on the box.

Making History: Quilts & Fabric From 1890-1970

A guide to making reproduction quilts, choosing reproduction prints and dating fabrics. Click on the cover to buy it from C&T Publishing.

Borderland in Butternut & Blue

Sampler Quilt to Recall the Civil War Along the Kansas/Missouri Border. A BOM with 14" traditional blocks and lots of history. Click for more:

CLUES IN THE CALICO eBook

Out of Print.

America's Printed Fabrics: 1770-1890

How to date antique fabrics and add to your stash of reproduction prints with projects for reproduction quilts. C&T sells new Print-on-Demand editions. Click on the bookcover.

Encyclopedia of Applique

The Encyclopedia of Applique second edition. Click on the bookcover for more information about an eBook or a Print-On-Demand version. Or buy from my stock at my Etsy store above.

Facts and Fabrications

Twenty traditional blocks to "Unravel the History of Quilts and Slavery." Click on the cover to buy an on-demand print edition.

CIVIL WAR SAMPLER: 50 Quilt Blocks

The book based on my Civil War Quilts blog is still in print. Click on the cover to buy a copy from C&T Publishing.

Quilts From the Civil War

Information on the role of quilts in the Civil War. Click on the cover to read more and order a digital version of this out-of-print classic. I have paper copies in my Etsy store above.

Civil War Women

More about quilts and how women used them during the War for fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding. Click on the cover to see more about an e-Book or Print-On-Demand book.

Juniper and Mistletoe

Karla Menaugh and I designed a BOM featuring quirky tree designs we found in antique quilts. Click on the cover to buy one at my Etsy store. We'll sign it.

EMPORIA ROSE

Challenging Applique from the heart of quilt country. Click to see more at C&T Publishing.

THE GARDEN QUILT: Interpreting a Masterpiece

More masterpiece applique from Ilyse Moore and me. Click on the cover to read more.

Visit My Spoonflower Shop

I have a few designs available at Spoonflower.com. You can buy yardage of postcard backs, quilt labels (like the one in the photo) and political prints in my Material Culture shop. Click on the label.

BOOK OF THE SAINTS EBOOK

You can buy my Book of the Saints For Quilters as an EBook for IPads for $3.99. Click on the picture to find ordering information for my 30-page collection of photocollages.

Lately Arrived EBook for IPads

A few years ago I did a Blurb book to accompany my Moda repro collection Lately Arrived From London. You can buy this little book with ideas and information on early quilts for $3.99 for your IPad. Click to see

Borderland in Butternut and Blue

A Block of the Month featuring patterns and stories recalling the Civil War in the west. Click on the cover to see more.

Carrie Hall's Sampler

A Block of the Month, featuring my favorite applique from Carrie Hall's 1935 Romance of the Patchwork Quilt. Click for more info.

Women of Design: Quilts in the Newspaper

Stitch pieced and appliqued baskets in the style of pattern designers from the 1930s as you learn about where quilt patterns come from. OUT OF PRINT.

Prairie Flower: A Year on the Plains

Block of the month: Original applique patterns recalling the landscape of the westward migration.

Flora Botanica Museum Catalog

Exhibit at the Spencer Museum of Art featuring their spectacular collection. Click to read more.

Our Favorite Quiltmakers:Susan McCord

Quilts inspired by Indiana's 19th-century "Quilting Genius". Click on the picture for more at my Etsy shop.